ABSTRACT
The ceramics industry represents a major segment of the global
economy and includes a diverse range of mature (i.e., whitewares,
refractories, glass) and emerging (i.e., technical and advanced
ceramics) products. Themanufacture of nearly all ceramics products
requires the use of both high (firing) and low (drying) temper-
atures that, up to the present, have been provided primarily by
conventional electric resistance or gas heating. Microwave energy
as a replacement and/or complement to traditional methods has the
potential to reduce processing costs, improve product performance,
and provide a greener solution for manufacturing ceramics.
